Spaghetti Alla Chitarra Recipes

SPAGHETTI ALLA CARBONARA: THE TRADITIONAL ITALIAN RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add guanciale (see Cook's Note). Cook, turning occasionally, until evenly browned and crispy, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and drain on paper towels.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 9 minutes. Drain and return to the pot. Let cool, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk eggs, half of the Pecorino Romano cheese, and some black pepper in a bowl until smooth and creamy. Pour egg mixture over pasta, stirring quickly, until creamy and slightly cooled. Stir in guanciale. Top with remaining Pecorino Romano cheese and more black pepper.

SPAGHETTI ALLA CHITARRA

Steps:

• Roll the dough out to the third thickest setting on the pasta sheeter (number 5 using a KitchenAid attachment) according to the directions given in "Matt's Scuola di Pasta" (page 158). Dust a baking sheet lightly with semolina and dust a work surface with flour. Lay one sheet of the dough on top of a chitarra and use a rolling pin to roll the length of the pasta, pressing it into the strings to form thin strips. (Alternatively, to cut the strands by hand, roll the dough out to the thinnest setting on a pasta machine-8 on a KitchenAid mixer-and place the sheets on the baking sheet, dusting lightly with semolina between each sheet. When you've rolled all of the pasta dough, trim the edges of one sheet to make a rectangle with straight edges. Using the first sheet as a template, cut the remaining sheets so you have a stack of rectangular pasta sheets. Cut the rectangles crosswise into 1/16-inch-wide strips that are as long as the sheet is wide.) Use the spaghetti or cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap and refrigerate the pasta up to one day. To freeze, place the baking sheet in the freezer until the pasta is firm to the touch. Transfer the pasta to sealable plastic bags, or an airtight container, dusting off the excess semolina, and freeze for up to two weeks (any longer and the pasta will dry out and crack).

SPAGHETTI ALLA CHITARRA CON POMODORO

Steps:

• Set the rollers of a hand-crank or electric pasta machine at their widest opening. Unwrap dough; flatten with the palms of your hands and run it once through the machine. Fold the dough in thirds like a letter and run through the machine again. Repeat this step two or three times, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
• Change the rollers of the pasta machine to the next decreasing setting, and roll out the dough once without folding. Keep rolling the sheet through the machine on decreasing settings until it is about 1/8-inch thick.
• Place a chitarra on work surface and lay pasta sheet over chittara. Using a rolling pin, press down on pasta sheets to cut into strands; set aside.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add pasta and cook until al dente, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted. Add cured tomatoes and cook until they break down slightly, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Drain pasta and add it to saucepan. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring, until well combined, about 1 minute. Add half of the cheese; stir to combine. Add orange zest and chile, stir, and remove from heat.
• Divide evenly among four individual plates. Serve immediately sprinkled with remaining cheese and garnished with marjoram leaves.

MACCHERONI " ALLA CHITARRA"

Steps:

• Place the meats, tomatoes, butter, oil, onion and carrot into a large pan and cook over medium-low heat about an hour stirring occasionally.
• While the sauce is cooking place the flour in a mound onto a board which has a depression on the top into which the eggs have been placed; or place into a bread machine on the dough setting, removing after kneading is finished.
• Knead the pasta dough, for about 35-40 minutes if making by hand.
• Roll out the completely kneaded dough into a large sheet, or use a pasta machine to roll out if you are fortunate enough to have one.
• Cut the sheet into 8 x 24 inch rectangles.
• Lay each rectangle length-wise over the"chitarra" and push down on each one with the rolling pin to make the macaroni, OR cut into narrow strips so that it looks like something between spaghetti and a narrow fettuccine noodles.
• Bring water to a boil in a large pot.
• Add the salt to the water.
• Add pasta and boil until they float to the top of the pot or is cooked until ala'dente.
• Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water.
• Add sauce to the pasta immediately.
• Before serving add the few drops of oil in which the hot pepper has been sautéed and toss lightly through the pasta.
• Serve hot topped with Parmesan Cheese.